Orphan Train Tragedy

by Rachel Wesson

  “I am so sorry. Please, if there is anything I can do, come and find me. I have to get back to my friend’s house now. Her little boy is also missing.”

  Mrs. Sauer crossed herself. “So many gone. Nobody could have guessed when they left here yesterday. All of them so happy. And now…I pray you find your boy.”

  The woman was gone before Kathleen could correct her. Thankfully Inspector Griffin’s two men had waited and were able to secure her a cab. Everywhere people waited on street corners, hoping for news. She couldn’t bear it. She pushed herself as far as she could into the seat, hoping and willing Teddy would be found alive.

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  The cab turned the corner onto Lily’s street. Kathleen sat forward, taking out her purse to pay the driver. She spotted someone on the street, dragging his heels, it was a child.

  “Stop.”

  The cab stopped but almost before he did, Kathleen was out the door.

  “Teddy! Oh my goodness, you’re alive. Thank God. Let me look at you. You’ve hurt your hands.”

  Teddy glanced at his hands. “I had to hold on to the boat’s rail or I would have gone into the water, it was hot.” He swallowed before looking at Kathleen, “Aunty Kathleen, are my parents going to kill me?”

  “No, my darling boy, they are going to be thrilled beyond belief. Come on, let’s get you home. Why are you on your own?”

  “I couldn’t find anyone.”

  Those words chilled her to the bone. She took his hand gently in hers and pulled him into the cab with instructions to the driver to hurry to Lily’s house.

  “Lily, Charlie, everyone. Look who I found.” Kathleen knew she was screaming like a fishwife, but she didn’t care. The cabbie got down and ran toward the house. Kathleen helped Teddy from the cab, but no sooner had he set his feet on the sidewalk when he was whisked into his father’s arms.

  “Teddy, oh my goodness. You’re alive.”

  “Teddy, darling. Oh, thank God.” Lily grabbed for her son’s hands. Kathleen quickly intervened.

  “He’s hurt Lily, watch his hands. You should take him to the hospital, so they don’t get infected.”

  The cabbie was ordered to do just that and before anyone had time to think, Charlie and Lily were rushing off in the cab back to Richard at the hospital. He was the only doctor they would trust with Teddy.

  Kathleen hugged herself tight and then got a hug from Father Nelson.

  “Tis a wonderful thing you did, Kathleen Green. Finding that boy.”

  “I didn’t find him, Father, he was almost home. And he was exactly as Laurie described, scared and his hands were hurting.”

  “That’s twins for you. Shall we go in and tell the children?”

  Kathleen let the old man lead her into the house. The children were asleep, so they decided not to wake them. They sat in the living room waiting for the others to come home. Cook made them tea and sandwiches and to her surprise, Kathleen found she was ravenous.

  “Thank you, Cook.”

  “I’d always do anything for you, Miss Kathleen, but now you are my hero.”

  Her words reminded her of Frieda. What was she going to do now?

  “Speaking of heroes, that reminds me, Father. I was in Little Germany before I found Teddy. It is so sad, there are people everywhere on the streets looking for their friends and family. I think your friend Reverend Haas could do with some help.”

  “Did he survive?”

  “Oh.” Kathleen didn’t know. She’d just assumed he had, but why would he when so many died? “I guess I should have said his congregation need the help.”

  “I will go down there first thing in the morning,” Father Nelson said. “I think everyone will forgive me for waiting for our friends to come home.”

  Kathleen didn’t want to be alone, so she was grateful the old priest saw it that way.

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  The next morning, Lily hadn’t returned, so Kathleen made her way to the hospital, leaving Cook in charge of the children. When she arrived, she bumped into Frieda.

  “Frieda, how are you? Did you find your brother?”

  Frieda said nothing, just stared at her. Kathleen looked around and recognized Mrs. Sauer. The woman was weeping openly.

  “So many of our friends never came home. Frieda came down here as someone said Hans was here. He was but…he was too badly injured. He died about an hour ago.”

  “Oh, the poor child. I thought I saw him rescuing people in the water. I must have mistaken him for someone else.” Kathleen felt awful as she had given Frieda false hope.

  “No, you did see him. They believe he rescued at least five people, maybe more. But he jumped in again to save a baby and got hit by something. They think it might have been a tugboat. They didn’t realize something hurt him bad until he collapsed. The poor boy. He was a hero.”

  “Oh Mrs. Sauer, I am so sorry. Can I do anything to help Frieda?”

  “No, I will look after her for the moment. You could pray for the baby. Her name is Elsa. She is the only member of her family to live. Her mother, father, grandmother, sisters, brothers. All gone. All gone.” The woman couldn’t restrain the tears any longer and sobbed into her hands. Kathleen didn’t know what to do.

  Frieda took Mrs. Sauer’s arm. “I will take her home to her husband.”

  Frieda’s lack of emotion scared Kathleen. She was torn between going after the girl and staying at the hospital.

  “Please help Elsa. Don’t let Hans die in vain,” Frieda said.

  Kathleen promised she wouldn’t leave the baby.

  At first, she couldn’t find baby Elsa, but Patrick came to her rescue.

  “Poor thing is only about six months old. She has some burns, but they don’t seem to be too bad. She would have drowned but for some kid. He jumped in and saved her. Imagine that.”

  “That kid was the ten-year-old brother of a girl I met last night. He died.”

  “Ten?” Patrick said. “The same age as Teddy.”

  The thought silenced both of them. Patrick took Kathleen to where baby Elsa was resting. Kathleen couldn’t believe how tiny the child was in the cot. She put her hand out to touch her and Elsa grabbed at her fingers and wouldn’t let go. The strength of her touch was amazing.

  “Little fighter, she is, Mrs. Green. I wish some of our older patients were as brave.” The nurse smiled as she spoke, telling Kathleen she wasn’t being serious.

  “Can I stay with her? Richard is in surgery, Patrick is working and I have nowhere else to be.”

  “To be honest, we need as much help as we can get,” the nurse said. “We are overrun, not just with patients from the tragedy itself, but family members looking for their lost ones. We aren’t about to turn down help.”

  Kathleen stayed by Elsa’s side, changing her diaper and feeding her as required. When the baby started to cry, Kathleen picked her up and cuddled her close. She waited for someone to come and ask about Elsa, but nobody did.

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  When Richard arrived on the ward some time later, he found Kathleen and the baby fast asleep.

  “Darling, go home and rest. You have been here for hours.”

  “Elsa needs me. She has no one else.”

  “She has the nurses and doctors to care for her. Come on, let’s get you home. You can come back tomorrow,” Richard said.

  Kathleen shook her head. “I can't leave her, Richard. I promised I would make sure Hans didn’t die in vain.”

  “Who is Hans?”

  “Frieda’s brother. I will explain later. For now, I need to stay here. Can you check Elsa for me please? Is she in pain?”

  “Darling, there is a team of doctors and nurses looking after her.”

  “Yes, but you are the best. Can you just have a look, please?”

  Richard picked Elsa up, and she snuggled into his neck. The look of shock on his face was quickly followed by an expression that almost made Kathleen cry. She watched as her husband tenderly examined the baby.

&nbs
p; “She seems like a fighter. The burns are superficial, thank goodness. I don’t like her cough, but hopefully she will recover soon. She is a pretty little thing, isn’t she?”

  “She’s gorgeous.” Kathleen looked around to make sure nobody was listening. “Richard, this isn’t the right time, but there never is a good time. Elsa is alone. Her parents and family died in the fire. Do you think they might let us adopt her?”

  Richard looked shocked, then concerned.

  “Kathleen darling, she could have extended family who want to take her. You are tired, we all are. It’s been a horrendous day and night. I know you already love this baby, but it’s far too soon to be thinking that way.”

  Kathleen stroked Elsa’s cheek.

  “I know I shouldn’t be, and I feel guilty for even mentioning it, but when the people from her community come around, can I please offer to bring her home and look after her?”

  Concern written all over his face, her husband traced his finger up and down her arm. She touched his face with her hand.

  “I know you are worried I will get my heart broken again,” she said. “That’s a risk I will take. I can't help feeling I was supposed to meet Frieda and now Elsa. I think things are connected. Don’t laugh. I know it sounds silly. I also hate the fact so many people died, but maybe this is God’s plan. For us to have our baby. I mean, I don’t think he killed all those people but…” She wasn’t about to admit, maybe this was the tragedy Granny had predicted. Granny had said the young girl would be involved with a fire. She had assumed Granny was talking about Mia but maybe she had been talking about Elsa. But then Granny had told her to be careful what she wished for. Had she caused this accident by wishing for a baby. She didn’t want to think it might be her fault. Maybe messing with reading the future had caused this catastrophe. But no, that was silly. Nobody knew what would happen. Accidents, even those as horrible as this one, happened.

  “I understand what you are saying, but let’s take our time, Kathleen. You of all people know this whole process will take some time to work out. The authorities and the church are likely to be involved. It is far too early to speculate now.”

  Richard replaced the blanket Elsa has just kicked off. Kathleen watched him, thinking what a wonderful father he would be.

  “I know all that in my head. But in my heart, I just want to love her and protect her.”

  “Do that darling, but also protect yourself. I couldn’t bear you to suffer another heartbreak.”

  She knew he was referring to Mia. He’d held her so tenderly when she’d cried, explaining how it felt to give Mia to Shane. How guilty she was at the thought of being jealous of her brother and knowing Mia was getting the best family ever.

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  Kathleen stayed in the hospital another few hours before giving into pressure from Richard and the nurses on the ward to go home and get some sleep. She didn’t sleep, but she had a bath and changed her clothes. She also went to the store and bought some new clothes for Elsa and a cuddly toy rabbit for her cot. When she came back, she was relieved to find the baby was doing well.

  “Her lungs seem to be clearing a little,” one of the nurses told her. “They don’t sound as congested.”

  Kathleen stayed with the child for a little while before going to find Lily. Teddy was in the children’s ward, his hands all bandaged up. He looked so tiny and pale in the bed. Lily was sitting beside him, her hand on his leg as if she could prevent him leaving her.

  “Lily?” Kathleen whispered.

  Lily raised a tear-stained face, taking a minute to recognize Kathleen.

  “We were so lucky Kathleen. Kevin and his family haven’t been found. I don’t know how Teddy got off that boat. He says a girl helped him out of the water. She could swim.”

  Kathleen glanced at Teddy before turning her attention back to Lily.

  “I wonder was it Frieda?”

  “Who?” Lily asked.

  “The girl I took home the other night. She was here yesterday. Looking for her brother. He was too badly injured to survive. Her father died too.”

  “Where is she now? Can I talk to her? Maybe give her a reward?” Lily asked, looking around as if Frieda might show up.

  “I was going to call to her home to check on her. I will ask her if she will come to see Teddy.”

  “Thank you, Kathleen. I don’t want to leave his side. I know he’s out of danger, but still. I have to be here. It’s all so horrible.”

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  Kathleen took a cab to Little Germany, but because of the sheer number of people around, she had to get out and walk. She saw newspaper reporters hassling people to find out every little detail. Some men looked shell shocked as they wandered from person to person, asking for news of their families. More than once, she heard a man cry out as his neighbor told him the news he’d been dreading. Picking up her skirts, she hurried to Frieda’s address. When she knocked on the door, she was relieved the girl opened it. Her face fell when she saw Kathleen.

  “I thought you might have been Papi, even though I know he’s dead. I saw Hans’ body, but not Papi. It is like it isn’t real. You know?”

  Kathleen nodded. She handed the girl the food she had brought with her. A small basket seemed such a pitiful response to the loss of a father and brother. Frieda took the basket and put it on the table. “I will bring it to Mrs. Sauer. She makes me eat with her family.” Then she looked at Kathleen. “Why did you come? Is it Elsa? Did she die too?”

  “No, she didn’t. She is doing well, although still in hospital. I came because I think you may have rescued my friend’s son. She would love to meet you, but doesn’t want to leave the hospital. Could you come?”

  When Frieda hesitated, Kathleen continued.

  “You would help a lot. Some children and adults in the hospital don’t speak great English. Maybe you could help the nurses by translating what they need to be told. It’s scary being in hospital, but when you don’t know what the people are saying…”

  Frieda seemed numb. Kathleen wondered if the girl should be in hospital. It was better than her being in this room all by herself, waiting and waiting for someone who wasn’t coming home.

  “If you came with me, I will stay with you. You won’t be alone and if you want to come home at any time, I will take you.”

  “Why?”

  “Frieda, you helped people without asking why. It’s something we just do. Isn’t it?”

  Frieda nodded. “I better tell Mrs. Sauer where I am going. She is very upset. She was so fond of Hans and Lottie.”

  “Lottie?”

  “My little sister. She’s sick. They think she has consumption. Papi put her in hospital a week ago to see if they could make her better.”

  Kathleen couldn’t believe the fourteen-year-old had so much hardship, yet hadn’t broken down. She figured the storm would come and swore to be with Frieda when it did.

  “I will go with you to see Mrs. Sauer. She may know of other ways the sanctuary can help.” Kathleen outlined what the sanctuary was and what it did over a cup of coffee at Mrs. Sauer’s house. She found out Father Nelson had been to the church and taken the service as Reverend Haas was ill. The reverend had lost his wife and sister in the fire and many members of his congregation.

  “Poor Mary also died.” Mrs. Sauer wrung her hands together. She looked at Kathleen. “Mary Abendschein, she was the one who organized everything. It may have been a blessing in her case. I don’t think that sweet lady could have lived with the fact she organized the picnic that killed so many.”

  “It wasn’t her fault. It was the ship and those crew members,” Frieda said. “Papi said they didn’t handle the fire correctly. It was one of the last things he said to Hans. They should have kept the door closed.”

  Kathleen didn’t know what Frieda was talking about, but it seemed like the girl should speak to one of the investigators who was looking into the cause of the fire. “Charlie, my friend Lily’s husband, works for a legal firm. He w
ill know people who will want to speak to you about the trip, Frieda. For now, let’s get back to the hospital. Mrs. Sauer, if you could get a few of the ladies from your community to make a list of things you need or who we can help, please come to the sanctuary.”

  “I will Mrs. Green, and thank you for looking after my community.”

  “It’s our community Mrs. Sauer. We are all New Yorkers.”

  Mrs. Sauer cried once more so Kathleen bundled Frieda out the door. It was time for a change of scenery.

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  As they made their way back to the hospital, Frieda told Kathleen of her hopes to become a doctor and then a nurse and how her father had been against them.

  “I would give it all up if I could see him again. I loved him so.”

  “He loved you too, I’m sure. He would be so proud of you and your bother for saving so many people, Frieda. I think becoming a doctor would be wonderful.”

  “Yes, but now it will never happen. I have nobody left.”

  Kathleen held the girl’s hand tight but didn’t say a word. Now wasn’t the time to make promises.

  When they reached the ward, Teddy was sitting up in bed, both Charlie and Lily by his bedside.

  “Teddy, I am so glad to see you awake. How are your hands?”

  “Fine, thank you Aunty Kathleen. Oh, you’re the girl who saved me, I remember your hair.”

  Frieda stepped forward. “I am glad you lived. You have strong legs. I still have a bruise where you kicked me.”

  Teddy turned scarlet as the adults smiled.

  “I apologize. I thought you were trying to grab onto me. So many people in the water…” his words trailed off as his eyes filled with tears. Before anyone could react, Frieda flung herself at him and gathered him close careful not to hurt his hands.